Binding tool



W. HUCAL BINDING TOOL Feb. 7, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 2l, 1964 .m1 meu @J /A/l/E/VTOR W/LL/AM HUCAL.

W. HUCAL BINDING TOOL Feb. 7, 1967 Filed Sept. 2l, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 /Nl/EN T0@ w. HucAa.

Feb. "7,v 1967 BINDING TOOL 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 2l, 1964 /Nl//V TOR W/LL/M HUCI..

W. HUCAL BINDING TOOL Feb. 7, 1967 4 Sheetsheet 4 Filed Sept. 2l, 1964 WML/AM HUC/4L.

United States Patent Office EdzS Patented ree. 7, 19e? 3,302,668 BINDING TOOL William Hncal, 3814 N. Wilton Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60613 Filed Sept. 2l, 1964, Ser. No. 397,843 8 Ciaims. (Cl. 14h-93.2)

This invention relates to improvements in package binding tools such as are employed to tension or stretch a flexible binder looped about a package and then join the two end portions of the binder with a connector to render the loop substantially permanent. Such tensioned binders, such as a band, a tie, a wire and/or a ligature, are extensively used to secure or reinforce packages, and the like.

In prior forms of connectors, known in the art, it is necessary to deform both the connector and the flexible binder to such an extent that the physical strength of the binder is greatly reduced at the joint where it is deformed. This is of Obvious disadvantage in that the binder may be broken away from the package.

It is an object of this invention to provide a connector of rectangular configuration and a binder which is not subjected to the above noted and other disadvantages of previously known forms of strap fasteners.

The connector used with a binder in this invention resides in the provision of two longitudinal openings extending inwardly from each end of the connector, the openings being of less width than the width of the flexible binder, and in which openings are provided serrated side walls with projections extending into the openings thereby embedding the forced portion of a binder within the openings on the tops of said projections.

The tool is adapted for binding packages with a binder connector and a binder of predetermined lengths of binder material, one end of the binder already secured within one opening of the binder connector. This operation wastes a short length of the surplus binder material in each binding operation; however, the cost of the waste material is minor compared to the labor saving expenses with this novel tool.

An important object of this invention is the provision of a tool with a single movable arm, or member which tightens the binder, actuates a binder cutting member with a pressure jaw which forces the end portion of the binder into the second opening remaining in the binder connector.

Another important feature of this invention is the provision of a tool having two resilient stops for holding the binder under tension, and to allow the head end member to be moved rapidly thereby permitting relatively rapid operation of the one movable arm and head member at the end of the tightening operation requiring the greatest force.

Another important novel feature of this invention is the provision of a simple friction, spring operated means in association with the movable head member and another spring operated means in association with the stationary rear member, each resiliently holding the binder in the tool while under partial or complete tension, and pin operated means to release the pressure of the rear means during the initial feeding of the binder in the tool for tensioning.

A further important object of this invention is the provision of a tool of relatively constructed parts and in which the several parts are so interlocked that they support or reinforce each other when the greatest strain is required to cut the binder to the required length and force the end portion of the binder into an opening of the connector.

A still further important object of this invention is the provision of a pivotal type binder cutter arm having one end to be raised by an arm member and having the opposite end so shaped as to have a cutting edge for cutting the end portion of the binder from the loop section, and also provided With a concave end portion suitable to fit along the longitudinal area of the end portion of the binder and force it downwardly into the second opening of the binder connector with serrated edges.

With these and other objects in view, as will appear hereinafter, I have devised a binder fastening tool having certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts and portions, as will be hereinafter described in detail, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the characters of reference thereon, which form a part of this application, in which:

FIGURE l is a top view of my tool in a preferred form, showing the same in position to receive and draw one end of a binder with respect thereto, and showing a fragmentary piece or length of binder arranged therewith and resiliently held in position;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the tool shown by FIGURE l, a portion thereof broken away to show the position of the binder with a connector arranged therewith as positioned for tensioning, the head portion of the tool moved slightly forward;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view, taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view, taken on line 4 4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary, enlarged, side elevation of the tool shown by FIGURE 2, a portion shown in section, and showing the position of the binder and cutting bar after the binder has been severed by said bar;

FIGURE 6 is a transverse sectional view, taken on line 6 6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a rear elevational view of the tool shown by FIGURE l, a part broken away showing the cutting bar;

FIGURE 8 is a rear elevational view of the tool shown by FIGURE 7 with both the arms at one end of the tool, the head portion of the tool moved rearwardly from outer dead center, the distance designated by dotted lines;

FIGURE 9 is a bottom view of the tool shown by FIGURE 1;

FIGURE l0 is a rear elevational view of the tool shown by FIGURE 1;

FIGURE ll is a front elevational View of the tool shown by FIGURE 1;

FIGURE l2 is a plan view of a rectangular shaped connector constructed in accordance with use in this invention and showing a flexible binder secured at one end in one opening in said connector;

FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of the rear gripper shown in FIGURE l0;

FIGURE 14 is an enlarged top plan view of the bottom plate member of the tool of this invention specilically showing the connector chamber;

FIGURE l5 is a bottom View of the stationary base member of the tool of this invention showing grooves and slots therein;

FIGURE 16 is a top plan view of the binder severing plate; and

FIGURE 17 is a bottom view of the forward movable head member of this invention; a bore, a slot and raised projection shown dotted in the view.

Referring now more in detail to the several figures of the drawing, the tool shown consists of a metal base plate 20, a rear head 2l secured to the top surface of plate 2i? and at the rear end thereof, a forward head 22, which slides upon the top surface of ibase plate 20 and slidably assembled upon a shaft 23 rigidly connected to said rear head 21 and supported on a riser 24 secured to the upper surface of said base plate 20. An operating means consists of a handle 25 rotatably mounted upon a shaft extending transversely through the rear head 21 and having a snug, running, or operating t maintained by a spring washer assembled therewith. The handle 25 has a top hand portion 26 'at the upper end thereof, a jaw portion 27 at its lower end thereof, and a `hub portion 28 in alignment with the supporting shaft within rear head 21, A link 29 is pivotally connected to the peripheral edge portion of the hub portion t28, sometimes referred to as yoke 28, by a crank pin 30 with a pin head 31 to retain the link thereon. The opposite end of the link 29 is pivotally connected with 'a pin 32 arranged in the rear side wall of the forward head 22, and the link 29 being retained on the pin 32 by an enlarged pin-head 33. Therefore, backward and forward movement of the handle 25 relative -to the base plate 2G will effect the forward head 22 to reciprocate backward and forwardly on said shaft 23, sliding on the upper surface of base plate 20. As clearly shown by FIGURE 9, the base plate 20 is secured to the rear head 21 rby screws 34.

As shown by FIGURE 1, the top plan of the rear head 21 is partially of T shape, having a forward extension 35, a rear extension 36, and a body portion 37. A rear binder gripper 38 of substantially right angular configuration in top plan thas a flat wall portion 39 and an outwardly extending arm 40. The flat wall portion 39 has a hole 40 to fit over a pin 41 extending outwardly from the vertical side lwall of rear extension 36 A second hole 42 l,is provided in rwall portion 39 and positioned so it will slip freely over screw 43, also extending outwardly `from rear extension 36. A coil spring 44 is sleeved over screw 43, one end thereof in engagement with the head 45 of the screw and the opposite end pressing against the flat wall portion 39 of the gripper to hold it resiliently against the vertical flat wall of rear extension 36. The outer end of arm 40 is provided with a concave and edge portion 46 thereby providing two longitudinal edge extensions 47 and 48. The horizontal base portion 50 of rear head 21 rests upon the base plate 20 and rigidly secured together with each other.

As for ease of explaining the drawings, the binder which can be made of steel wire, plastic, or any suitable material, will be referred to as a loop of wire 55, see FIGURE 12, and the connector will -be referred to as a steel plate type seal 56, often referred to in the industry as a wire clip member. The seal 56 has longitudinal side edges 51, and end edges 52, rwith `centrally arranged longitudinal openings 53 and 54 extending inwardly, one from opposite ends of the seal. The seal 56 is preferably made of metal, rectangular in plan, and it will be seen that the openings 53 and 54 are defined by opposite side walls or surfaces of serrated or toothed form. The openings 53 and 54 yare further defined by end walls 49; said openings are T shape in plan as shown by FIGURE 12, the end walls 49 extending transversely of the seal and are of greater length than the width of the openings. The edges of the serrati'ons 57 are capable of receiving the free ends of `the wire, one end being forced into the one opening before used and the opposite end of the wire being .forced into the second opening of Ithe seal after the wire has been tensioned and `cut off at exact desired length. It is clearly understood that the projections in the openings are such that the width of the opening at the bottoms of the projections is proportioned with respect to the structure of the Wire, or binder, to permit enforcement of the wire laterally into the openings, and the width of openings at the tops of the projections being proportioned with respect to the structure of the wire `to securely embed said tops of the projections into the enforced wire.

As stated previously, the rear gripper V38 has edge extensions 47 and y48, which extend into grooves 58 and 59 in base plate 20 and rear portion of the base 50 of rear thead 21; see FIGURE 10.

The rear head 21 has a wire receiving passageway or longitudinal groove 60, see FJGURES 10 and 15. The base plate 20 has a longitudinal slot 61 extending therethrough for more than half the length thereof, see .FIG- URES l0 and 14. The groove 60 and slot 61 are so provided and assembled together to provide a common wire channel 75 leading to and from the seal nest type chamber 62 formed by a rectangular recessed opening 63 in the bottom surface of the rear head 21 and covered by the base plate 20, see FIGURE 9; and said base plate 21) having an opening 64. The nest chamber 62 is foi receiving the seal inserted through the opening 64 and moved forwardly thereinto, the seal held in place until the wire is tensioned. Therefore, as shown by FIGURE 10, the concave portion 46 of the rear gripper 38 will grip the looped end of the wire ias it is fed through the wire channel 75 formed by passageway 60 and slot 61. The gripper 38 is maintained -in a gripping manner due to spring 44. The gripper is moved out of normal position by a dual arm bell crank 65 with an upwardly extending arm 66 and a downwardly extending arm 67, said crank 65 journalled on a 4horizontal pin 68 with enlarged head 69, see FIGURE lO. The rear head is provided with a longitudinal bore 7G near its upper surface, shown dotted by FIGURE 5, and which provided a passageway for a pin 71 extending therethrough and projecting from each end thereof. The forward end of pin 71 is in the path of the movement of the forward head 22, whereby the pin 71 is moved rearwardly when the forward head `22 is moved rearwardly in juxtaposition with the rear head 21, at which time the rear end of said pin 71 strikes the upper arm 66 of bell crank 65 which forces the lower arm 67 forwardly into contact with the arm 40 -of gripper 38, moving it counter clockwise away from any wire in the Wire channel 75, placing spring 44 under compression. Said spring 44 will cause the pin 71 to move fonwardly when the forward head 22 is again moved forwardly away from said rear head 21 through the reverse movements of said rear gripper 38 and bell crank 65.

The forward head 22 is formed with its horizontal base portion 72 sliding on said base plate 20 and having the vertical portion 73 extending upwardly therefrom and at the rear thereof; see FIGURES l and 11. Said head 22 is also formed with a short longitudinal pressure Wall 74 arranged just forward of the wire channel 75. Said vertical portion 73 supports pin 32 by its rear wall and supports a screw '76 approximately half-way Ibetween its upper and lo'wer limits and adjacent its rear edge. A spring 77 is sleeved over said pin 76 projecting horizontally and forwardly from the front vertical face of said vertical portion 73. A front wire [gripper 78 of Z shape in top plan has a |vertical rear flat wall portion 79, intermediate portion 80, front -wall 81 with serrated teeth 82 thereon for gripping any wire placed between said wall 81 and the pressure wall 74 of forward head 22, see FIGURE 1. The serrated teeth 82 are normally pressed against the wire 55 because of the compression spring 77 urging said wall 79 rearwardly against said vertical Wall portion 73, as the rear fiat wall 79 has a hole therethrough and is assembled upon said screw 76, in juxtaposition with said wall portion 73 of head 22. It ,s observed by FIGURE 1 that the Z shaped gripper is resiliently held in normal wire gripping arrangement. A pin 85 is screwed into the top surface of hase portion 72 a short distance to the rear of said pressure wall 74 and is provided with an enlarged head 86, said head 86 extending over the uppermost edge of said front gripper 78, preventing upward movement thereof while the front wall 81 of said gripper may pass between said pin 85 and said wall 74 when it is pressed rearwardly effecting compression of spring 77.

As shown by FIGURE 15, the bottom surface of said rear head 21 is provided with a recessed shear plate pocket 83 extending transversely on opposite sides of said passageway 60, so designed to receive the wire shear plate 84, see FIGURE 16. Said shear plate 84 is L shape, see FIGURE 16, :and is shown assembled by dotted lines, by FIGURE 1. The narrow body portion has a transverse groove 88 therein which is in alignment with the wire channel 75 when assembled below the wire severing knife 87. Said groove 88 centers the wire longitudinally and forms concave supporting surface during work performance period.

As shown :by FIGURES 5 and 6, the rear head 21 has a transverse passageway 9|) extending therethrough, the passageway being of suicient size to enclose the severing knife 87 therein during pivotal movement thereof. The knife 87 carries a rigid pin 91 that extends through opposite sides thereof, said pin 91 adapted to rest in a longitudinal groove 92 of semi-circular cross section provided in bottom surface of rear head 21. A spring 94 is arranged with the lower end thereof in a vertical bore 95 in the base plate 20 and with its upper end in a vertical bore 96 in the rear portion of said knife 87, the spring 94 is arranged to exert upward pressure against the rear arm portion of the knife and move the severing face of the knife downwardly against the wire 55 held in the wire channel 75 in overlapping relation of the nested seal 56 in seal nest chamber 62 by the front wire gripper 7S, as soon as the handle 25 begins its initial movement of an operating step. The forward end of the knife S7 has a depending jaw 97 with a semi-circular longitudinal groove 98 with longitudinal serrations such as O-degree teeth, the concave groove tting down on top of the wire to be severed and is supported by groove 8S `of shear plate. The concave jaw edge forces the wire against the concave supporting shear plate edge. Continued movement of the jaw 97 forces the severed end of the loop of wire downwardly into the rear opening in the seal 56. This continued movement is effected by movement of the handle portion 26 in a counter clockwise direction, then striking the stationary handle 160 rigidly secured to the rear vertical face yof said rear head 21. Prior to contact of movable handle 25 with stationary handle 199, the jaw projection 99 on the lower end of the handle 25 strikes the rear end 101 of knife S7, raising it and forcing the opposite end, or jaw 97, downwardly to sever the tensioned wire, and also forces the knife jaw to secure the severed end of the tensioned wire into the :rear opening of the nested clip of the assembly, see FIGURES 6 and 8. Upon return motion of the handle top portion 26, in a clockwise direction, the lower end portion 102 of handle 25 will strike the top edge of the knife end 101, see FIGURES 3, 7 and 8, forcing the same downwardly against the `action of spring 94 and raising the jaw 97 of the knife out of the wire channel.

In operation, the assembly shown in FIGURE 12 of the seal 56 and the binding wire 55 is positioned in the seal nest chamber 62 by turning the tool upside down, placing the seal through the opening 64 with wire 55 arranged in the wire channel 75, pulling forwardly on the wire drawing the seal 56 forwardly into the recessed opening 63 covered by plate 20 which provides the seal nest 62. The tool is then turned to normal position with base plate 20 at the bottom, and then the tool with its nested assembly positioned against a side, preferably the top side, of an object to be banded and the free end of the wire 55 then wound in a plane of the wire about both the object and the tool with the wire 55 of the assembly then positioned in said plane between the combined plates 20 and 50, and the concave end edge portion 46 of the rear gripper 38, as shown by FIGURE l, and in overlapping relation to the assembled nested seal 56, as shown in FIGURE 2, and with its surplus assembled wire end 195 secured between the take-up pawl, or Z shaped front wire gripper 78, and its cooperating pressure wall 74 of the 6 upward projection formed on the base portion 72 of head 22, see FIGURE l. The free end of the surplus wire is then grasped by the operator and pulled forwardly to take up all the slack in the loop of the wire around the object and over the tool.

With the tool and assembled seal and wire nested as described in the preceding paragraph, the steps of a wire operation may then be actuated by moving the handle, or lever 25, from the positions shown in FIGURES 1, 7 and 9, rearwardly toward the position shown in FIG- URES 5 and 8, and returning said handle 25 from the position in FIGURE 5 to its original position as in FIG- URE 1. The tool may then be released from the secured wire and the object by moving the tool forwardly along the tensioned wire.

During movements `of the handle 25, as described in the preceding paragraph, the following movements of mechanism of the tool takes place: The lower end surface 102 moved upwardly and away from the rear end 101 of knife 87, releasing knife S7 and spring 94, thereby permitting spring 94 to move the cutting and severing face of the knife 87 into contact with the positioned wire 55 and at the same time the gripper teeth embed themselves into the wire 55 and press the wire against the pressure wail 74; the forward head 22 slides forwardly for tensioning the wire and at the same time the wire withdrawn from tensioning the wire about the object is pulled past the rear gripper 38 below the knife S7 and its cooperating shear plate 84; the head 22 moves to outer dead center then moves rearwardly a short distance, as shown by FIGURE S with dotted lines, due to the -crank pin 3G passing forward dead center on hub 28, and pulling rearwardly on link 29, whereby crank pin 32 pulls head 22 rearwardly; this rearward movement of head 22 releases the holding pressure of gripper 7S on the surplus wire, the rear gripper 38 then holds the wire in tension while continued movement of handle 25 into contact with stationary handle causes the jaw 27 of handle 10i) to strike the rear end 101 of knife 87, pivoting the same on pin 91, forcing the forward jaw 97 thereof downwardly to sever the tensioned wire along the rear transverse edge of shear plate 84 cooperating therewith, the semi-circular groove 98 of jaw 97 forces the severed end portion of wire 55 downwardly into the Arear opening in the seal 56 of the assembly. The operating handle 25 may then be returned to its original position, as shown by FIGURE 1, thereby releasing the rear gripper 33 and knife 87 from the wire 55, after which the tool is moved forwardly along the object, thereby separating the tool from the tensioned wire 55 and the object, as hereinbefore explained.

As further explanation, when the tool is made ready for a banding operation and before the 4handle is moved, or the knife is released, it is clearly shown by FIGURE 3 how lower end 102 of handle presses downwardly on rear end of the knife so the front end jaw 97 will not obstruct in winding of the wire into wire channel 75, and upon movement of the handle 25 rearwardly, the spring 94 forces the jaw 97 downwardly against the wire, as shown by FIGURE 4. Continued movement ofthe handle rearwardly effects its jaw 97 to force the integral free end portion of the wire 55 downwardly into the opening in the seal, as shown by FIGURE 6.

Although various minor structural modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should `be understood that I wish to employ within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and properly come wit-hin the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device of the class described, comprising a base plate having a rear head rigidly secured to the rear end portion thereof, a forward head slidably mounted on the forward end portion thereof, a front wire gripper resiliently mounted upon said forward head and movable therewith, a rear wire gripper resiliently mounted upon said y rear head and adapted to rigidly hold a wireas the forward head and front gripper are moved toward said rear head, a bell crank pivotally mounted upon said rear head with an arm extending upwardly and an arm extending downwardly, a pin slidably arranged in a horizontal bore in said rear head and extending forwardly and rearwardly from said rear head, the rear end of said pin adapted to Contact the bell crank upwardly extending arm, the said downwardly extending arm of said bell crank adapted to contact said rear gripper to render it inactive when said upwardly extending arm is moved rearwardly upon Contact thereof by said pin when it is moved rearwardly, said pin adapted to be moved rearwardly upon contact with said forward head when it is moved to extreme rear position, a pivoted operating lever attached to said rear head, a link connecting said forward head and said perating lever, and a pivotally mounted knife in said rear head adapted to sever a wire and operable by said operating lever.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a base plate, a rear head rigidly secured on the rear portion of said base plate, a front head slidably mounted upon the front end portion of said base plate, an operating handle pivotally mounted upon said rear head and connected to said front head by a link pivotally attached at one end to said front head and at its opposite end to the lower end portion of said handle, a knife pivotally mounted in a transverse passageway in said rear head, a cam on said handle whereby forward movement of said handle will move the rear end of said knife downwardly and its front jaw end upwardly, a jaw on the extreme lower end of said handley whereby rearward movement of said handle will move the rear end of said knife upwardly and its front jaw end downwardly, a stationary lever secured to said rear head and extending upwardly therefrom, a rear gripper resiliently mounted upon said rear head, a front gripper resiliently mounted upon said front head, a wire channel extending longitudinally in each of said front and rear heads, said front and rear grippers assembled to normally engage a wire in said wire channels, pin means slid` ably mounted in said rear head adapted to be moved rearwardly by rearward movement of said front head and adapted to move a bell-crank means and move said real gripper away from a wire in said wire channel in said rear head.

3. The device defined in claim 2 wherein an adjusting screw and a coil spring are assembled with said rear head adjacent said rear gripper whereby the normal gripping pressure thereof can be varied.

4. The device defined in claim 2 wherein an adjusting screw is assembled in each of said front and rear heads, each of said front and rear grippers having a hole therein whereby they are each mounted on one of said adjusting screws, each screw having a head portion on the outer free ends thereof, and each screw having a coil spring mounted thereon between the gripper assembled thereon and its head portion whereby the normal gripping pressure of said front and rear grippers can be varied.

5. The device delined in claim 2 wherein the rear gripper thereof has a concave wire gripping end surface with longitudinal serrations formed in said end surface.

6. The device defined in claim 2 wherein the front gripper has a vertical wire gripping surface with a plurality of vertical serrations formed in said vertical wire gripping surface.

7. The device defined in claim 2 wherein a cylindrical shaft is supported above the forward end portion of said base plate by a suitable support at its forward end, the rear end of said shaft assembled within a horizontal bore in the rear head, said front head having a horizontal bore therein, said cylindrical shaft extending through said horizontal bore in said front head whereby said front head may reciprocate thereon and slide upon the top surface of said base plate.

8. The device defined in claim 7 wherein the forward movement of said front head causes the front gripper to grip any wire in said wire channel and move therewith and tension the wire and slight rearward movement of said front head rearwardly from its forward extreme position will release the gripping of said front gripper with the wire causing the rear gripper to grip the wire and hold it in position for shearing the wire while out of tension below the knife and adjacent a wire shearing plate assembled in said rear head.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,784,025 12/1930 Norton 14C-93.3 2,076,276 4/1937 Porter 140-932 3,083,742 4/1963 Orme 14C-93.2 3,166,105 1/1965 Hucal 140-932 WILLIAM J. STEPHENSON, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED, COMPRISING A BASE PLATE HAVING A REAR HEAD RIDIGLY SECURED TO THE REAR END PORTION THEREOF, A FORWARD HEAD SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON THE FORWARD END PORTION THEREOF, A FRONT WIRE GRIPPER RESILIENTLY MOUNTED UPON SAID FORWARD HEAD AND MOVABLE THEREWITH, A REAR WIRE GRIPPER RESILIENTLY MOUNTED UPON SAID REAR HEAD AND ADAPTED TO RIGIDLY HOLD A WIRE AS THE FORWARD HEAD AND FRONT GRIPPER ARE MOVED TOWARD SAID REAR HEAD, A BELL CRANK PIVOTALLY MOUNTED UPON SAID REAR HEAD WITH AN ARM EXTENDING UPWARDLY AND AN ARM EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY, A PIN SLIDABLY ARRANGED IN A HORIZONTAL BORE IN SAID REAR HEAD AND EXTENDING FORWARDLY AND REARWARDLY FROM SAID REAR HEAD, THE REAR END OF SAID PIN ADAPTED TO CONTACT THE BELL CRANK UPWARDLY EXTENDING ARM, THE SAID DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING ARM OF SAID BELL CRANK ADAPTED 